1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of the play NOT THE FILM of Real Women Have Curves. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
- The play takes place during 1987 in Los Angeles. The play starts out early in the morning in a sewing factory with several Mexican-American women. It is told from a young Mexican-American woman Ana. The play centers around the women’s lives and future desires. As the play unfolds, much conflict arises between the women and immigration officers as well as between the women themselves.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
-The intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken is when we learn that Estella is not in the United States legally.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
- The events take place at this certain time due to the way illegal immigrants(more specifically those originally from Mexico) and women are currently being treated in the United States.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Estela become legal and finish the dresses on time? Will Ana go to college and accomplish what she wants do regarding writing?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana vs Herself: Earlier in the play Ana wants to prove to herself that she’s better than these women. She believes that this job is just temporary and that she is going places. By the end of the play, it is shown that she does what she wants regarding writing and going to college, but she is actually proud of where she came from. She actually learns from the women she worked with.
Ana vs Individual(Carmen, mother): Carmen, her mother, doesn’t really want/believe for her to go to college. She wants here to stay with her and Estela to help her in the sewing factory. Ana, on the other hand, wants to go to college to prove herself.
Ana vs Society: Ana is frustrated with the way society treats women. Ana believes women have a right to say no to men in sexual situations, while society still hasn’t really grasped such a concept. Ana really wants society to grasp such a concept. She has trouble explaining the idea to the other women in the factory.
Ana vs Fate: Ana believes working in this sewing factory isn’t her true fate and really wants to prove that. She wants to show that she is in control of her own destiny.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
Important theatrical moments include when we find out Estella is not here legally and needs to complete an order of dresses. Another important theatrical moment is when Rosali faints after trying to break up a fight between Estela and Pancha. Another theatrical moment is when they think an immigration officer is outside their factory.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image is the opening scene is there they introduce Ana and Carmen entering the sewing factory. The image gives a reader a very good idea of what the rest of the play will be like by describing the character’s actions as well as how the play will progress. Another image is when all the women leave at the end of the day at the end of play and the author describes Estella cleaning up the factory and imagining herself in the dress. This gives the reader a better understanding of Estella and her character. Throughout the play we see her as more serious and strict, but here we see her in a more relaxed light. Another image is when the playwright describes the scene where Pancha and Estella get into a fight and Rosali tries to break it up. It is described in great detail which is essential as it is a very important moment in the play. It helps the reader understand the seriousness of the situation.All these images help understand how these women are “real women”. They are responsible, strong, and independent women who work hard to get what they want. This is why the play is titled Real Women Have Curves, and it helps us understand these images better.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Themes in this play are feminism, importance of family, and dedication.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family is an essential theme in Real Women Have Curves. Carmen, the mother, believes family is essential and her life mainly revolves around her family, especially her children. While she may seem strict and even mean, deep down she does it out of love. Estella values family highly as much also. Ana, who seems frustrated and reluctant first due to the way she is treated, eventually shows family is important as well by the end of the play. It is central to the other women as well. All of the other women talk of how close they are to family or how they want to have kids or how they want to get married. All actions are based on such dedication. It is redefined in the play because it redefines how much more "close" family can be.
- The play takes place during 1987 in Los Angeles. The play starts out early in the morning in a sewing factory with several Mexican-American women. It is told from a young Mexican-American woman Ana. The play centers around the women’s lives and future desires. As the play unfolds, much conflict arises between the women and immigration officers as well as between the women themselves.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken in the play and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
- The intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken is when we learn that Estella is not in the United States legally.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
- The events take place at this certain time due to the way illegal immigrants(more specifically those originally from Mexico) and women are currently being treated in the United States.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Estela become legal and finish the dresses on time? Will Ana go to college and accomplish what she wants do regarding writing?
5. Use Ana, the central character, to answer the questions. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what Ana wants (NOTE: In Real Women Ana's wants seem to be in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ana vs Herself: Earlier in the play Ana wants to prove to herself that she’s better than these women. She believes that this job is just temporary and that she is going places. By the end of the play, it is shown that she does what she wants regarding writing and going to college, but she is actually proud of where she came from. She actually learns from the women she worked with.
Ana vs Individual(Carmen, mother): Carmen, her mother, doesn’t really want/believe for her to go to college. She wants here to stay with her and Estela to help her in the sewing factory. Ana, on the other hand, wants to go to college to prove herself.
Ana vs Society: Ana is frustrated with the way society treats women. Ana believes women have a right to say no to men in sexual situations, while society still hasn’t really grasped such a concept. Ana really wants society to grasp such a concept. She has trouble explaining the idea to the other women in the factory.
Ana vs Fate: Ana believes working in this sewing factory isn’t her true fate and really wants to prove that. She wants to show that she is in control of her own destiny.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Real Women Have Curves.
Important theatrical moments include when we find out Estella is not here legally and needs to complete an order of dresses. Another important theatrical moment is when Rosali faints after trying to break up a fight between Estela and Pancha. Another theatrical moment is when they think an immigration officer is outside their factory.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Real Women. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image is the opening scene is there they introduce Ana and Carmen entering the sewing factory. The image gives a reader a very good idea of what the rest of the play will be like by describing the character’s actions as well as how the play will progress. Another image is when all the women leave at the end of the day at the end of play and the author describes Estella cleaning up the factory and imagining herself in the dress. This gives the reader a better understanding of Estella and her character. Throughout the play we see her as more serious and strict, but here we see her in a more relaxed light. Another image is when the playwright describes the scene where Pancha and Estella get into a fight and Rosali tries to break it up. It is described in great detail which is essential as it is a very important moment in the play. It helps the reader understand the seriousness of the situation. All these images help understand how these women are “real women”. They are responsible, strong, and independent women who work hard to get what they want. This is why the play is titled Real Women Have Curves, and it helps us understand these images better.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Real Women.
Themes in this play are feminism, importance of family, and dedication.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Real Women? Is family redefined in this play? If so, how and why?
Family is an essential theme in Real Women Have Curves. Carmen, the mother, believes family is essential and her life mainly revolves around her family, especially her children. While she may seem strict and even mean, deep down she does it out of love. Estella values family highly as much also. Ana, who seems frustrated and reluctant first due to the way she is treated, eventually shows family is important as well by the end of the play. It is central to the other women as well. All of the other women talk of how close they are to family or how they want to have kids or how they want to get married. All actions are based on such dedication. It is redefined in the play because it redefines how much more "close" family can be.